Pens

[cedarshavings]

Has anyone ever done any of the wood pen kits? If so, is there a special lathe used to turn those?
I know this isn't a real carving question but i'm just curious about those.

Thanks

[Joy]

My husband occasionally turns pens on his big lathe. But there are small table top lathes that would turn pens.

[mark yundt]

You use a mandrel that allows you to turn them on any lathe.

[cut up]

I have heard of people turning pens on a drill press, although it's not recommended. You can turn a small project on a big lathe, but you can't turn a big project on a small lathe.

[mark yundt]

Actually there are mandrels specifically for a drill press. Considering the size of a pen,,it's not so large that it would be difficult to do,nor put any stress on the drill press. I've turned many things on mine and it works quite well.Pens aren't a problem at all.

[ejnelson]

I've turned a few pens. You could do them on a drill press, but it will be a little hard on it. The quill is nod designed for that much lateral pressure. I think Woodcraft has the Rikon midi lathe on sale for around $200. I have the Jet midi and love it. Here is my favorite pen so far. The inlay is purpleheard and poplar in maple with a walnut bottom.

They are a lot of fun and a great quick project, but I really would recommend getting a real lathe. There are a lot of other things you can do besides pens too!

[mark yundt]

That's true,,but some of the mandrels I have seen have a bracket that fastens to the table to eliminate that stress.

[AlArchie]

EJ.that's a really neat pen! How do you manage the inlays; done first, then turned or turned then inlayed? I like it!

Al

[ejnelson]

Mark, I won't take away from the DP method. There's always another way of doing things! I guess I would think of it like using a multitude of chisels when you can get by with one or two, just doesn't seem like the optimal method!

Al, I did the inlay first. I have another idea I want to try, but haven't made it back to the lathe yet!

[mark yundt]

Oh you're absolutely right,,it's not the best,,nothing beats a lathe.
One thing my DP has the capability to do is run at just over 8,500 RPM,haven't seen too many others that spin that fast,,,15 speeds,it's a bit scary,,but I have also run router bits in it as a reverse overhead pin router.Don't really want to do that again either. A drill press works best as a drill press...unless I put my jig on it to sharpen my jointer and planer blades...Or unless I .......

At times I think I simply ask too much from my tools.